Refillable cooling package

ABSTRACT

A REFILLABLE COOLING SYSTEM FOR DETECTOR CELLS IN A GUIDANCE SYSTEM HAVING A REFILLABLE TAMK SECURED TO A FILLING AND DISCHARGE MANIFOLD. THE STORAGE TANK IS FILLED THROUGH A CONNECTOR ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO AN ARGON SUPPLY. A CHECK VALVE IS PROVIDED BETWEEN THE CONNECTOR AND THE MANIFOLD. AN ON/OFF SOLENOID VALVE IS PROVIDED IN THE OUTPUT LINE WHICH IS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD IN THE DETECTOR CELL COOLING CRYOSTAT.

March 6, 1973 O. G. HATCHER 3,719,206

REFILLABLE COOLING PACKAGE Filed Feb. 12. 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 0046 6;. [gr lane B) 197701? 5 March 6, 1973 0, 3 HATCHER 3,719,206

REFILL-ABLE COOLING PACKAGE Filed Feb. 12. 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E lg-2 INVENTOR. 00A 6' 6. 1967713963? March 6, 1973 o, HATCHER 3,719,206 REFILLABLE COOLING PACKAGE Filed Feb. 12, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig-f1 CO/VIVfCTOR IZ v 22 v I Q l a IN VENTOR.

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United 1 States Patent O "cc 3,719,206 REFILLABLE COOLING PACKAGE Odle Glenn Hatcher, Panama City, Fla., assignor to the United States of Americaas represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Feb. 12, 1971, Ser. No. 114,855 Int. Cl. F17c 7/02; F25b 19/00 US. Cl. 137596 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The detector cells in some guidance systems are cooled with gaseous argon. In these systems, the flow of the cooling argon gas is initiated by a squib actuated control with no provision for terminating the flow at the end of the test so that any gas remaining at the end of the test is lost. With such a system, it is necessary to replace the cooling gas supply after each test.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention a refillable argon supply is provided. A solenoid valve in the cooling line to the detector cell permits on/ofi control of argon gas. With the solenoid valve shut off, the supply tank can be refilled through a check valve. The supply tank is refillable at the field level which results in a saving of both time and material.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a refillable cooling package according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is atop view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right-end view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the device of the invention with a cooling cryostat.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the manifold for the device of FIG. 1 along the line 66.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the manifold of FIG. 6 along the line 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the manifold of FIG. 6 along the line 8-8 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the manifold of FIG. 6 along the line 9-9 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 along the line 10-10 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing wherein reference number 10 shows a cooling package having a storage tank 12, a filling and discharge manifold 14, a cooling gas input system 16 and a cooling gas discharge system 18.

3,719,206 Patented Mar. 6, 1973 The cooling input system 16 has a connector 22 adapted to be connected to an argon gas supply and a check valve 24 connected to the input 26 of manifold 14 to prevent reverse-flow in the supply line.

The cooling discharge system 18 has a solenoid valve 30 connected to port 32 by means of fittings shown generally at 34. The cryostat 36 for the detector cells is connected to a fitting 38 on the solenoid valve 30. The solenoid valve 30 may be any on/ofi type solenoid valve with the proper pressure requirements. The solenoid valve used was a Marotta Model MV-IOOH.

Gas is supplied to the manifold through a fitting 40 which is secured to the tank 12 by any well known means such as welding. The fitting 40 is secured to the manifold by a bolt 42. A passage 44 through fitting 40 mates with passage 46 in the manifold. An O-ring seal, not shown, surrounds the junction of passages 44 and 46. A pressure gauge 39 is connected to port 41 in manifold 14.

In the operation of the device, the storage tank 12 is filled by connecting a supply line from an argon gas supply to the fitting 22. When the pressure within the storage tank 12 reaches approximately 6000 p.s.i., as indicated on pressure gauge 39, the gas from the gas supply is shut off and the supply line is disconnected from fitting 22. The check valve 24 prevents the reverse flow of gas in the supply line.

When the test is started, the solenoid valve 30 is energized through leads 31 to permit the flow of gas to the cryostat wherein it expands to provide cooling for the detector cells in the conventional manner. When the test is completed the solenoid valve 30 is de-energized, and the flow of gas to the cryostat is shut off. The storage tank can then be refilled for another test if there is insufficient gas remaining for another test There is thus provided a refillable cooling system for the detector cells of a guidance system which results in a saving of both time and material.

I claim:

1. A refillable cooling system for guidance system detector cells comprising: a storage tank for storing a cooling gas; a filling and discharge manifold secured to said tank; a gas passageway in said manifold leading from said tank to a first port and to a second port; a storage tank filling line connected to said first port; means, in said filling line, for preventing a reverse gas flow through said line; an output line connected to said second port; means for connecting said output line to the cooling cryostat of the detector cells; means in said outline for initiating and stopping the flow of gas through the output line to said cooling cryostat.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said manifold is in the form of a cylindrical section having an outer cylindrical wall surface and a substantially fiat outer wall surface; a cylindrical chamber in said manifold on the side adjacent flat wall surface; a fitting secured to said storage tank and projecting into said cylindrical chamber; said fitting including a passageway, in said manifold, leading to said first port and said second port; said means for initiating and stopping the flow of gas through the output line being a solenoid valve positioned on the side of said manifold adjacent said flat Wall surface; said manifold including a third port communicating with the passageway through said manifold; means, adapted to be connected to a high pressure argon gas supply, for supplying high pressure argon gas to said storage tank filling line; a pressure gauge positioned on the side of said manifold adja- 3,332,254 7/1967 Elovic et al. 62-5 14 cent the flat wall surface and connected to said third port; 2,932,175 4/ 1960 May 62'--'-551X said means for preventing reverse flow through the filling 3,316,726 5/ 1967 Pauliukonis 62-514 line being a check valve. 3,363,207 1/1968 'Brechna '625 14 X References Cited 5 HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS R. J. MILLER, Assistant Examiner 3,188,824 6/1965 GeiSt et al. 62-514 X 3,418,824 12/1968 Beutel et a1. e2-514 X 3,364,687 1/1968 Kolrn 62514 X 10 3,442,091 5/1969 Kipping et al. 62514 X 

